Togo's German Coach Decides to Stay After All

German coach Otto Pfister will return to coach the Togo team just three days after he walked out over a dispute concerning player's bonuses. The 68-year-old German told sports press agency SID that he was returning to his old post and would be on the bench for Tuesday's

Group G opener against 2002 World Cup semi-finalists South Korea. "I am coming back and I will take my place on the bench for the match against South Korea," he said.

Pfister's return was confirmed by the spokesman for the Togolese delegation Messan Attalou. "He (Pfister) will be on the bench on Tuesday against South Korea and will be our coach for the whole tournament," Attalou said.

However the ever deepening sense of farce and confusion continued as at their eve of match conference the man who replaced him, Kodjovi Mawuena, denied any knowledge of the late switch around. "I am not aware of this," said Mawuena, who has been in charge of the national side before. "I hope I remain coach," added the former national team captain, whose view was supported by the Sports Minister, who denied that any negotiations had taken place to get Pfister back.

Pfister had explained to the FIFA media channel in no uncertain terms that the continuing financial debacle between the players and officials over bonuses --the players were demanding $120,000 (94,800 euros) apiece -- had forced his decision. The Togolese federation had kept the channels open with Pfister, who returned to his home base in Switzerland, and also held talks with another German coach Winfried Schäfer.